Are You Going to Vote for a Bigot?

There's only one question with 76 days left in the election: Are you going to vote for a bigot? You can insert whatever word you want in place of bigot there. Some might throw around "hypocrite," or worse, "racist." But "bigot" seems to nail it in a way the others don't. Here's the Merriam-Webster definition of the word:

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A person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.

Donald Trump is all of those things. No, he's not donning a white hood and marching in Klan rallies, but he's outwardly prejudiced against various groups with whom he's had little-to-no interaction. He uses his pulpit to fear-monger; he believes certain minorities are inherently prone to wrongdoings based solely on the fact of their minority status (see: Trump University judge; Mexican "rapists;" Muslims).

Donald Trump is a bigot. New York Times columnist Charles Blow said as much in a debate with Trump's diversity coordinator Bruce LeVell on CNN last night. As Blow argued, any points LeVell wanted to make about Hillary, or the economy, or a toxic media narrative against Trump were moot. Pointless. Obsolete. Even if Trump has the single best plan to boost the American economy, or a brilliant scheme to solve the problem of stagnating wages (he doesn't), it wouldn't matter, because Trump is a bigot. It's not one thing he's said; it's dozens of things he's said and done over the past year and change. Donald Trump's business history should give you cause for concern. Donald Trump's bigotry should make you ashamed to elect him to lead the free world.

LeVell's stone-faced reaction to Blow's mic drop is all you need to consider here. Of course, LeVell waffled and tried to accuse Blow of not answering the question, but it's clear Blow's comment got through. Even if LeVell is being paid handsomely by Trump—even if he believes in Trump's mission—the bigotry element remains. It's not beneath the surface, it never really was. It's there. If you vote for Trump, you are voting for a bigot.

GettyRalph Freso

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I don't have the slightest idea what it's like to live a day in the United States as a person of color; to experience what Blow, LeVell, or CNN host Don Lemon have experienced at any point in their lives. I will never know. My opinion on "whom black people should vote for" does not matter.

But I have met many white bigots.

I saw many in person at the RNC last month. I have spoken to them. I have listened to them throw around the N-word without care. I know what a bigot looks like, and whether you support Hillary or loathe her, whether you're a registered Democrat or Republican, this whole election really comes down to one question: Are you going to vote for a bigot?